September 2022 Update: Sadly it appears this podcast no longer exists which includes my interview not being around anymore.
Friends! I have had the honour of being interviewed for the fantastic podcast ‘This Retro Life‘ by Kia from Australia.
ABOUT:
This Retro Life is dedicated to telling the stories of people who are bringing the lifestyle, fashion, collections and music back from a bygone era.
Meet some of the best modern day pinups, burlesque dancers and vintage collectors and hear the stories behind why they are make this modern life a little more retro.
I talk Lindy Hop in Toronto (the bands, the dance), Toronto Vintage Society (the shopping, the fun), my blog and everything else that makes me tick in my vintage life (like my passion for old photos).
May 26th is a very special day in the Lindy Hop Community (the original Swing Dance) as it’s ‘World Lindy Hop Day‘ AND the birthday of one of the founders of the dance, Frankie Manning. Many communities around the world will be celebrating and here in Toronto we are hosting a Big Band Swing Dance. I’m the emcee for the night and it’s going to be a wonderful night of music and dance.
For today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage photo posts) I wanted to share images of the Lindy Hop/Jitterbug that myself and so many others have enjoyed over the years.
It begins in the African American communities of Harlem, New York during the late 1920s in conjunction with swing jazz. Lindy Hop is closely related to earlier African American vernacular dances but quickly gained its own fame through dancers in films, performances, competitions, and professional dance troupes. It became especially popular in the 1930s with the upsurge of aerials. The popularity of Lindy Hop declined after World War II, and it converted to other forms of dancing, but it never disappeared during the decades between the 1940s and the 1980s until European and American dancers revived it starting from the beginning of the 1980s (Source).
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers was a professional performing group of Savoy Ballroom swing dancers, started in 1935 by Herbert “Whitey” White. Frankie Manning mentioned above was part of this troupe.
Source: NYPL Digital Collections
Frankie Manning & Ann Johnson in 1941, demonstrating an Aerial Step that Frankie was the original creator of.
Source: Laura Windley
Original swing dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James, dance the Lindy Hop for Life Magazine in April 23rd, 1943.
Source: Swungover
Source: Pinterest
Source: Pinterest
Jitterbug contest, 1939.
Source: Tumblr
Lindy Hopping at the famous Savoy Ballroom, in Harlem New York.
Source: Tumblr
Kaye Popp and Stanley Catron also demonstrating The Lindy Hop for Life magazine, April 23rd 1943.
Source: Time.com
Washington, D. C. Jitterbugs at an Elk’s Club dance, 1943.
Source: Wikipedia
Jean Veloz and little brother Ray Phelps, famous swing dancers in the 1940s.
Lindy Hop dance in the 1940s.
Source: Tumblr
Dorothy McGuire doing the Lindy at the Stage Door Canteen. -1940s photo.
Source: Pinterest
I will leave you with one last photo of Frankie Manning and Ann Johnson perfecting an Aerial Move. Truly a work of art!
Source: Pinterest
I hope you enjoyed browsing these wonderful vintage Lindy Hop Photos and if you are not a swing dancer yet, maybe this post will enourage you to make the move. It truly is loads of fun!
